South Korea's ambassador in Syracuse area Wednesday for free-trade pact

Syracuse, NY -- South Korea’s ambassador to the United States will be in Central New York Wednesday to promote a free-trade treaty.

Han Duck-Soo, who was South Korea’s prime minister in 2007 and 2008, will start his day at Welch-Allyn, in Skaneateles, where he will tour the medical device maker’s plant.

South Korea is America’s seventh-largest trading partner, according to government statistics.

It’s also an important market for Central New York companies, said Rob Simpson, president of CenterState Corp. for Economic Opportunity. He said local companies such as Killian Manufacturing Corp., of Syracuse, and Nixon Gear Inc., of Solvay, were selling into the South Korean market.

“We have a lot of companies doing business with Korea,” Simpson said. “Everyone feels they are just scratching the surface."

Simpson said having Han in town creates an opportunity for companies interested in selling to South Korea to meet its representative in the United States.

And, Simpson said, Han’s visit fits well with CenterState’s recently announced initiative with the Brookings Institution to promote exports.

Han is scheduled to speak at an invitation-only luncheon and to visit The Post-Standard to meet with its editorial board.